Can A Woman Be Fired From Her Job For Stalking

In Washington, D.C., Attorney Dawn Martin released the following press release on her recent filing in an important case before the supreme court:

PRESS RELEASE “Working while Female:” Supreme Court Will Decide whether to Review D.C. Circuit Decision Holding that a Woman Can be Fired for being Stalked by a Stranger in her Workplace ! Washington, D.C. – Martin v. Howard University and Alice Gresham Bullock, U.S. Supreme Court No. 08-204. As a law professor at Howard University, Dawn Martin was stalked by a delusional, homeless, serial stalker of African-American female professors. The stalker, Leonard Harrison, was searching for the physical embodiment of his “fantasy” wife — a fictional female character, Geneva Crenshaw, in a book, And We are not Saved, written by Prof. Derrick Bell. Instead of following its own security procedures to ban the stalker from campus, Howard responded to her requests for protection by refusing to renew her teaching contract. Prof. Martin sued Howard, alleging sexual harassment/hostile work environment and retaliation for protesting sexual harassment. Martin is the first case to present the issue of “gender profiling” in the employment context — or the “working while female” factor. The application of “gender profiling” to sexual harassment cases will also set precedent for racial, ethnic, religious profiling harassment cases. Ms. Martin filed a Petition for Certiorari in the Supreme Court, asking the Court to review theMarch 31, 2008 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. SeePetition for Certiorari,Howard’sBrief in Oppositionand Ms. Martin’s Reply Brief at http://www.dvmartinlaw.com/MartinvHowardU.html. On November 14, 2008, the Supreme Court will decide whether it will hear the case on the merits. Roberta Wright, Esquire, representing the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) and the other women’s advocacy groups, has stated that she will file an Amicus Curiae Brief within the next few days. Groups that want to be included should immediately contact Ms. Wright at [email protected] and Ms. Martin at [email protected].